roteomic, metagenomic and genome-wide analyses of oral cavity of ovariectomized rats with psychological stress

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21094
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: PAUDEL Durga 北海道医療大学, 先端研究推進センター, 助教 (20910590)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: psychological stress / salivary protein / genome wide analyses / oral cavity / post menopause

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Several oral symptoms and diseases of unknown etiology such as oral burning sensation, taste disturbance and lichen planus are most commonly prevalent in post-menopausal females. Although there are no identifiable causes, psychological stress and low estrogen level may be attributed etiologically to these symptoms and diseases. However, the exact effects of psychological stress and estrogen deficiency on the oral symptoms in the post-menopausal females have not been demonstrated. The proteomic analysis of salivary proteins, oral microbiome analysis and genome-wide analysis of oral mucosa in the postmenopausal state may help to understand the etiology of the symptoms and diseases. Therefore, I will perform proteomic, metagenomic and genome wide analyses of the samples obtained from oral cavity in the ovariectomized and chronic stress rat model.
For the first phase of experiment, I performed RNA-seq analysis of submandibular glands between the psychologically stressed rats and control. I identified some candidate genes that are altered in the submandibular gland of psychologically stressed rats. I am validating those genes using qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. After, validating those genes, the result will be able to identify the genes most affected by psychological stress in submandibular gland. The result might provide a hint on how psychological stress affects oral diseases.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

The experiment is going on as I planned. I started the experiment with a preliminary study and the results were quite good. I have already started the main experiment as proposed.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

For the second year, I have divided the rats into six groups as proposed. The rats were housed for three months are now undergoing the psychological stress protocol. After, a month of stress protocol the samples collected from the rats will be subjected for proteomic, genetic and metagenomic analyses.

Causes of Carryover

In the first year, I used the research grant for the initial phase of experiment. The experiment went smoothly as planned. Therefore, a small amount of grant is remaining. The remaining grant from the first year will be used in the second year to perform the proteomic, genetic and metagenomic analyses as planned.